William Leake Hamer

William Leake Hamer of Fairview, NC, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was in the care of Valor Hospice at Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. Billy faced his lengthy battle with cancer head-on with courage and positivity. Billy was born on March 24, 1950, in Clinton, SC. He was the son of the late Robert Pickett Hamer and Lydie Holland Leake Hamer. In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his brother Robert “Bobby” Hamer. He was affectionately called Billy by his family and Bill by his professional contacts through work. After high school, Billy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune/MCAS New River for four years, where he worked with precision and careful attention to detail on ejection systems in jets and helicopters. His service in the Marine Corps taught him discipline, instilled a strong sense of duty, and gave him pride in teamwork and completing every task he undertook. Billy chose AB Tech’s building program due to its exemplary reputation in the southeast. This decision launched his long, successful career in cabinetry and woodworking. He and Marilyn married in the spring of 1974 and moved together to build their life and make Asheville their home for the next fifty years. Billy began his professional career as a founding partner of Creative Woodcrafters Inc. The business concentrated on custom cabinets, mostly kitchens, in residential homes and custom commercial projects. In 1990, Billy became a founding partner with Alan Tenan of Forest Millwork Inc in Asheville, NC. He put his years of experience producing quality products that were well-regarded in the community into the business. Forest Millwork became well known as a subcontractor for beautiful kitchens and interior cabinets in residential homes, corporate and small-business office spaces, courthouses, church interiors, and many custom jobs that also required specialized millwork. Billy retired in 2016. Billy cherished his family, the center of his life and his greatest joy. He was a lifelong Carolina Gamecocks fan, loved music, especially the blues, and enjoyed playing the harmonica. He sought out the Friday night lights of local high school football games, nostalgic for his own days as a center on his high school team. He treasured family vacations, especially moments with friends and loved ones at Lake James. Another deep passion was preparing food on his beloved Big Green Egg. In retirement, Billy enjoyed peaceful bicycle rides in Carrier Park in Asheville, NC, and throughout the Peninsula in downtown Charleston, SC. Billy is survived by his wife of 51 years Marilyn Fryfogle Hamer; his daughter Elizabeth McRae Hamer (husband - Jeff Brooks) of Charleston, SC; his son Lincoln Heath Hamer (wife - Lindsey) of Weaverville, NC with his grandsons Heath William Hamer and Pierce Michael Hamer; his sisters Elizabeth Jane Hamer Crandall of Black Mountain, NC, and Janet Leake Hamer Holcombe (Scooter) of Cary, NC; and many beloved nieces and nephews. A celebration of Billy’s life will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Morris Funeral Home in Asheville, NC, with Reverend Edna Jacobs Banes officiating. Interment will follow at a later date in a private family gathering at R.P. Hamer, Sr. Cemetery in Little Rock, SC. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to: Messino Cancer Center Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Valor Hospice Ralph H Johnson VA Hospital In lieu of flowers, please honor Billy with memorials to one of the following organizations: • R.P. Hamer, Sr. Cemetery (hamercemetery@gmail.com) • Riverlink in Asheville, NC (https://riverlink.org/donate/) • HunterSeven Foundation (https://www.hunterseven.org/) • The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/)

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William Leake Hamer

March 24, 1950 - February 24, 2026